Support and brace for ladder-rungs and the like.



F. G. MYER.

SUPPORT AND BRACE FOR LADDER RUNGS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 16, 1009.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

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FRANCIS C. MYER, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

SUPPORT AND BRACE FOR LADDER-RUNGS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application filed February 15, 1909. Serial No. 478,094.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS C. MYER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Support and Brace for Ladder- Rungs and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladders, and more especially to their rungs; and the object of the same is to produce an improved metallic socket piece for connecting the rung to the uprights.

To this end the invention consists in a socket piece having means for attachment to both the rung and the upright, and adapted for application and use as set forth below all as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side View and Fig. 2 a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Flg. 1, both showing one upright and a rung connected thereto by my socket piece made in its preferred form. Figs. 3 and 4; are respectively elevation and side view of this socket piece. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are respectively an elevation, a side view, and a top view of a slightly different form of the socket piece.

In the drawings the letter U designates one of the upright standards or legs of a ladder, and It the rung thereof whose extremity X by preference originally passes through the upright but in use may become broken oil indicated at B. Usually these rungs are round, and sometimes their bodies are larger than their extremities which latter fit into holes bored through the uprights in the present instance I have shown the rung R as round and of the same size throughout. It has not been thought necessary to illustrate an upright and rung as they are usually connected initially, and the dotted lines in Fig. 1 therefore show the original rung X as broken off at B and a new rung R as about to be substituted for the body of the old one. Such substitution may take place by use of my improved socket piece S which will now be described. This member in its preferred form is of malleable metal stamped into about the shape shown in Fig. 3 and adapted to finally assume the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At top and bottom it has ears 1 provided with countersunk holes 2 for screws or nails 3 which pass through them into or through the uprights U; the inner ends of these ears 1 merge respectively into the upper and lower halves of a tubular boss l, which halves are connected with each other at one side as at 5 and split apart or separated from each other at the other side as at (5; and each half adjacent said split is provided with a radial hole 7 taking through that side of the boss and adapted to receive a fine screw 8. Finally, within each half of the boss is formed a teat 5) projecting radially toward its center.

The modified form of socket piece shown in F 5, (3, and 7 is precisely the same except that it is not initially split as at G and hence there need be but one radial hole, as 70; and there need also be but one of the teats 90, as in fact one of those in the preferred construction may be omitted. This modified form of socket piece need not neces sarily be malleable.

In the use of this device, assuming the original rung to be either broken 01? within the hole in the upright as shown at B or sawed oil square and even with the inner face of the upright as will be understood, when it is desired to replace a rung so broken and to repair and yet strengthen the ladder, a new rung R is procured and sawed oil to a length equal to the distance between the two uprights; then my improved socket pieces are applied to the extremities of these rungs with their bosses facing each other, fine screws 8 are by preference seated in the radial holes 7 or 7 O to prevent the rung from turning in the sockets, and the latter are secured within the uprights with larger screws or nails 3 which engage the uprights at points sulliciently remote from the holes which receive the tips of the original rung to produce no weakness in the entire structurc, and in fact to strengthen the latter instead, because of the several remote points of attachment of the socket piece to the wooden members.

It is within the scope of my present invention that it may be employed in the initial construction of a ladder, in which case the uprights would not be bored for the reception of the tips of the rungs, but the latter would be connected with them by using these socket pieces in substantially the manner above described.

In applying to a rung a socket piece of my preferred construction as shown in Fig. 3 the same may be slipped laterally over the tip of the rung and the two halves of the boss 4 then pressed together by a suitable tool so that they will surround the rung as shown in Fig. 2, and during this operation the teats 9 will be embedded into the wooden extremities of the rung in a manner which will be clear, so as to prevent the dislodgmentof the socket pieces from their attachment to the uprights or the rotation of the rungs therein after they have been put in place.

In applying to a rung a socket piece of the construction best seen in Fig. 5 where the boss is not split, its outer end is passed over the tip of the rung until the teat 9O strikes it, and then the entire socket piece is driven thereon longitudinally during which motion the teat will plow a small groove 900 in the surface of the tip of the rung as indicated in Fig. 1. While it is obvious that two radial holes may be used in this form of socket piece, only one is necessary because the boss is not split.

I do not limit myself to details of construction farther than as covered in the claims below; to the sizes, material, or exact shape of parts; nor to the uses to which this invention may be put, as it is obvious that the same can be employed in many other arts such as the attachment of the spokes to the telly of a wheel or the attachment of an upright ortransverse member to its frame or support. lVhen put to the use above described, it makes .a stronger ladder than formerly constructed and one not likely to be loosened or broken during the rough usage to which ladders are subjected by workmen, and its utility for the purpose of repairing old ladders which have been broken is thought to be obvious.

When a simpler or cheaper form of socket piece is desired or when metal rungs are to be employed, the teats might be omitted and the fine screws 8 might be set screws simply bearing against the tips of the rungs.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A socket piece for the. purpose described, the same being of malleable metal and consisting of a cylindrical boss initially made in two halves split apart at one side and connected at the other, and a teat projecting radially inward at about the center of each half and adapted to embed an inclosed member when the halves have been pressed together around it, means for holding the halves in this position, and means for connecting them with another member.

2. A ladder comprising uprights, round rungs, and socket pieces connecting them, the same being made of malleable metal and consisting of two cars standing in a single plane and having holes through them, an integral cylindrical boss projecting at right angles'to said plane and initially made in two halves split apart at one side and connected at the other, and a teat projecting radially inward within each half of said boss.

8. A ladder comprising uprights, rungs, and socket pieces connecting them, the latter being of malleable metal and consisting of two ears with means for attaching them to the uprights, a boss made in halves split apart at one side and connected at the other and each half having a radial hole near its outer edge, screws adapted to pass through the holes and engage the rung after the halves have been approximated, and a teat projecting radially inward from the center of each half, for the purpose set forth.

4. A ladder comprising uprights, rungs, and socket pieces connecting them, the same being made of malleable metal and each consisting of two ears initially out of line with each other, means for attaching them to said uprights, an integral boss projecting at right angles from said ears and initially made in two halves split apart at one side and connected at the other, each half having a radial hole near the split, screws adapted to pass through said holes and engage the rung after the halves have been approximated, and a teat projecting radially inward from the center of each half and adapted to engage the upper and lower sides of the rung when the halves have been pressed together.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this the 13th day of February, 1909.

FRANCIS C. MYER.

WVitnesses:

E. S. MCDONALD, Rosa Vonncxna. 

